Basic Research
Gene and Protein Identified, Offer Promising Targets
for Male Contraceptives
Scientists at the Population Council's Center for Biomedical Research and their colleagues have characterized the role that a gene and its protein play in male fertility. If drugs could be developed that targeted this gene or protein, they would potentially produce reversible male infertility in a way that would not affect libido or any other factor modulated by testosterone. The findings may provide clues about previously unexplained causes of male infertility.
Public Health
Immunization Benefit for Child Survival Confirmed
Most people would not question the idea that childhood immunizations increase child survival. Some recent evidence, however, has thrown doubt on this common understanding. To further assess the effects of childhood vaccinations, Population Council researchers and others examined data collected over five years on immunization and child mortality in Ghana's rural Kassena-Nankana District. The investigators were both surprised and reassured by their findings.
Safe Motherhood
Despite Efforts, Maternal Deaths in India Remain Common
In 1992, India's government launched the Child Survival and Safe Motherhood program to address the major causes of death and disease in women and children, building on earlier efforts. The program aimed to reduce maternal deaths to 200 per 100,000 live births by the year 2000. Estimates of maternal deaths released in 2000, however, indicate that currently about 407 maternal deaths occur in India per 100,000 live births. Population Council researchers examined data from Agra and Sitapur, rural districts of Uttar Pradesh, to assess the government program's readiness to provide safe motherhood services.
Reproductive Health
Needs and Services Assessed in the Philippines
Program managers at reproductive health and family planning clinics can provide the most appropriate services when they are aware of the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of their clients and other stakeholders. Population Council researchers spearheaded a rapid field appraisal of reproductive health needs and services in the Philippines, with the help of government agencies and a number of cooperating agencies.
Health Care Reform
Linking Health-sector Reform and Reproductive Health
In many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean-and around the world-health sectors are being transformed by two forces: reforms to make the provision of health care more effective and efficient and the adoption of a broad-based reproductive health care model in accordance with international agreements. While theoretically these two movements dovetail, a recent study in Latin America found that crucial opportunities for cooperation between the two camps are being missed.
Aging
Studying Living Arrangements of Developing-country Elderly
Few researchers have examined how the household structures of elderly people differ in various developing countries or have analyzed whether households become more nuclear-perhaps thereby excluding the elderly-as their economies become more developed. Population Council social scientists addressed these questions by studying the living arrangements of older adults in 43 developing countries around the world. Their research revealed several regional patterns in the living arrangements of older people.
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